Kiambu Senator Welcomes Move By Government To Set EPZ Zone In Thika

Kiambu County senator has welcomed the move by the ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry gazettement of an export and processing zone (EPZ) in Kiambu County.

While addressing congregants at Githirioni Catholic church during the thanksgiving service for Lari Member of Parliament Hon. Mburu Kahangara, Kiambu County Senator Hon. Karungo wa Thang’wa said the consideration by the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry through CS Rebecca Miano is a big win for the County since more than 50,000 jobs will be created by EPZ.

“We want to thank the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry through CS Miano for gazetting Kiambu County as an EPZ zone. We are now happy after registering our discomfort following the County government of Kiambu luster in allocating land for this purpose. Our people will now have an opportunity to work and earn a living.” Hon. Karungo wa Thang’wa said.

Kiambu County political leadership led by Majority Leader Hon. Kimani Ichung’wa and Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa have been pushing the county government of Kiambu to set aside land for EPZ in Thika arguing that other counties have embraced the EPZ which has led to increased job opportunities for their people.

According to a notice directed to the ministry of Investment, Trade, and industry, EPZ Authority CEO Adan Mohamed has indicated that the county has declared land measuring 131.35 hectares to be public land for setting up EPZ.

Other leaders who attended the thanksgiving service and who applauded the setting up of EPZ in Thika were Thika Member of Parliament Alice Ng’ang’a, Kabete MP Githua wa Macukuru, Ruiru MP Hon. Simon Nganga, Women Rep. Hon. Ann Wamuratha alongside a host of other elected leaders and Kiambu County MCAs led by their speaker Hon. Charles Thiong’o.

So far, Kenya’s National government will spend Ksh4.7 billion in the next financial year (FY 2023/2024) to establish county industrial parks in all counties countrywide. Launch of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks is in line with the government’s Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda.

Other counties where the EPZ has launched is in Busia, Kakamega, Bumgoma, Trans Nzoia, Migori, Siaya, Kisii, Nyamira, Mombasa, Kajiado, Narok Meru and Laikipia Counties.